Disc Displays: The Andreas Strehler Time Shadow and the Rolex Sky-Dweller

I absolutely love watching tennis and in particular, the legendary Roger Federer. He has turned this sport into an absolute art and has the finesse of a ballet dancer. Ultimately, that is why loyal fans travel in the droves to see him on every possible occasion. He also has many high profile sponsors who pay millions for him to promote their products, and one of these companies is the world’s most prominent watch brand, Rolex.

The Andreas Strehler Time Shadow (Image: Andreas Strehler).

Subscribe for the latest Rolex news.

Disc Displays

At many events, Roger Federer can be seen sporting the phenomenal Sky-Dweller. I was fortunate enough to review the 18-karat white gold version of this amazing watch a few years ago, and was completely transfixed by its quality appearance. A dual time zone watch with an annual calendar complication, the Rolex Sky-Dweller is a classically styled timepiece with a complex and highly functional in-house movement.

Unlike any other model the company has produced, the Rolex Sky-Dweller displays the secondary time zone on an off-center rotating disc, rather than with the traditional method of using an additional hand. Another exquisite watch that uses this disc-display facility instead of the centrally-mounted hands format is the ‘Time Shadow’ by Andreas Strehler.

The off-center rotating disc on the Rolex Sky-Dweller is used to display a secondary time zone, while the traditional hands display the local time.

The Andreas Strehler Time Shadow

Anyone that appreciates fine horology will be familiar with the name Andreas Strehler. A few years ago he kindly sent me a book appropriately entitled, Engineer for the Brands Watchmaker for the Few. This really summarizes what this amazing atelier is all about. In his illustrious career, he has devised complicated movements for some of the world’s finest watch brands like H. Moser & Cie., Harry Winston, Maîtres du Temps, and Maurice Lacroix. He is also involved in many projects with several other micro/independent brands. On a parallel level, he is also handcrafting his own meticulous creations, including the Time Shadow.

In a few months, my fifth book about independent watchmakers will be published featuring the Time Shadow. It truly is a remarkable timepiece and easily identifiable as one of Andreas Strehler’s creations. With a stainless steel case measuring 41mm x 37.30 mm the watch exudes classical proportions. However, hours are displayed in a non-conventional format on a rotating disc, and minutes on an overlapping dial via a single hand.

Like the Rolex Sky-Dweller, the Andreas Strehler Time Shadow uses an off-center disc to display the hours of the day (Image: Andreas Strehler).

Similar but Very Different

The Rolex Sky-Dweller uses traditional hands to display local time, while its off-center disc displays a secondary time zone. However, the Andreas Strehler Time Shadow only displays a single time zone, and does away with the hour hand entirely, using its disc display as the sole indicator for the hours of the day. This gives the timepiece a really distinctive modernistic appearance.

Beneath the refined façade lies a highly complicated, in-house, manual winding movement devised by Andreas Strehler. The 20-jewel calibre comprises 132 individual components and oscillates at a frequency 21‘600 vibrations per hour. The manufacturer bevels/decorates this exquisite mechanism by hand, and is visibly showcased via the sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Even though the ‘Time Shadow’ only features hours and minutes it is still a remarkable piece of horological engineering.

The Time Shadow’s manually-wound, in-house movement is finished and decorated by hand (Image: Andreas Strehler).

WATCHES YOU MIGHT LIKE

About Steve Huyton

Steve Huyton, is a published author who has written several books about architecture, horology and luxury design. He also has produced articles for high profile magazines like Esquire and has a global design website called Total Design Reviews. Unlike many other writers, Steve is an industrial designer specialising in products like bespoke Swiss mechanical watches and custom made leather blazers. This gives him a unique insight into the whole creative process, which gives his editorials more integrity.

Copyright Bob's Watches. All rights reserved. Bob's Watches is not affiliated with Rolex S.A., Rolex USA, or any of its subsidiaries.

Bob's Watches is an independent watch dealer and is not sponsored by, associated with and/or affiliated with Rolex, S.A. Bob's Watches only sells pre-owned Rolex watches and provides its own warranties on the watches it sells. Rolex, www.rolex.com, is under no obligation to warranty-service watches sold by Bob's Watches. Rolex Datejust, Rolex Day Date President, Submariner, Presidential, Explorer, Sea Dweller, Super President, GMT Master, GMT, YachtMaster, Prince, Milgauss, MasterPiece, Air King, Cosmograph Daytona, and PearlMaster are all registered trademarks of the Rolex Corporation ( Rolex USA, Rolex S.A.) To buy a new Rolex watch, please visit rolex.com for a list of authorized Rolex dealers near you.* Sales tax on Internet transactions is only collected on orders shipped to addresses in California or as otherwise required by law.